Kaljurand gaining ground as most popular candidate for president
According to a poll by TNS Emor, the Estonian people would like to see Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand as the next president, when Toomas Hendrik Ilves steps down in August.
Kaljurand, who is Reform-Party-named minister, but not a party member, was favored for the post in March by every tenth respondent, increasing to every seventh by August and now every fifth, Postimees reported.
According to the poll, 20.3 percent of the respondents would like to see her as president, with Edgar Savisaar (12.6 percent) in second, followed by Siim Kallas (10.6 percent) and Indrek Tarand (9.5 percent). Tarand is followed by a long list of people from Ene Ergma (4 percent) to Jüri Luik (1.2 percent).
Kaljurand is the most popular candidate for both sexes, for all education levels and age groups and all income brackets, except for those making 300 or less euros per month.
Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas (Reform Party) said people's opinion is important but his party will not select Savisaar or Tarand as president. The president in Estonia is elected every five years by the Parliament, or if any candidate fails to win at least two third of votes in the Parliament, by an election collage of MPs and local government representatives.
Editor: J.M. Laats